Canada announces new travel measures to combat spread of Omicron COVID-19 variant | FULL

Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced on Tuesday new travel measures, being enacted today, to combat the spread of the new Omicron COVID-19 virus variant, which was first detected in South Africa.

These measures include additional testing at airports and the addition of three African countries, Egypt, Malawi and Nigeria, were included on the travel ban list.

This comes as the Omicron variant of concern continues to surface in more countries, with at least four cases having been reported in Ontario and one in Quebec.

Last week, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced that Canada was enacting five COVID-19 travel measures involving seven countries in southern Africa, including Zimbabwe and South Africa. Under the new measures, foreign nationals who travelled through these countries would be barred from entering Canada.

The B.1.1.529 variant, also known as the "Omicron" variant, was first detected in South Africa, but new data shows the emerging threat slipped into countries before their defences were even in place. It is unclear where or when the variant first emerged.

Tuesday's update comes as much remains unknown about the new variant, including how contagious it might be, whether it causes severe disease and how effective current vaccines in use, are against the virus.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/841....4055/canada-travel-b

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